“Policy is about safety, equity, transparency – nothing more, nothing less”– Min Walrond

…as new tint regulations to be enforced from Dec 31
On Friday last, Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Walrond had announced that the motor vehicle window tint will now be universally permitted at 35 per cent light penetration, removing the need for the long-utilised waiver system for standard tint approvals.

During a brief interview on Sunday, the Home Affairs Minister revealed that the policy’s urgency was triggered immediately upon her assuming office, when she was met not with celebration, but with a “large stack” of unresolved tint-waiver requests from confused citizens.
“On the first day, I was greeted with a large stack of requests for tint waivers,” Minister Walrond recalled. “People were calling and messaging, asking ‘What is the process? How do I get permission? I have a skin condition, I transport cash, I need security’. The confusion lent itself to bad actors manipulating citizens and the system itself.”
The new framework announced on Friday eliminates the waiver-approval bottleneck that existed under the former discretionary system, establishing automatic eligibility for all registered motor-vehicle owners to apply compliant tint, without needing ministerial permissions.
Under the proposed legislative amendment, vehicles will be allowed a maximum of 35 percent tint (or lighter) on side and rear windows and 70 percent tint on front windshields.
Defending the sweeping reform as a long-awaited response to public demand, scientific evidence, and procedural fairness, the Minister emphasised that the limits are balanced to account for both personal protection and road safety.
“It is not safe to have a heavy-tinted front windshield,” she clarified. “Seventy percent is lighter than thirty-five, but it still offers significant protection from UV exposure while preserving visibility for safe driving.”
The policy overhaul followed consultations between the Guyana Police Force and the Home Affairs Ministry, triggered by long-running public frustration and a mismatch between assumptions and reality.
According to Minister Walrond, internal reviews showed no empirical link between the presence of vehicle tint and increased criminal behaviour. Meanwhile, climate science presented a compelling counterargument–prolonged UV exposure is demonstrably hazardous.
“The belief was that tint encouraged crime,” she said. “But when we examined the data, we realised there was no correlation. And in fact, we found the opposite–open vehicles exposed to high UV are unhealthy, especially in the context of climate change.”
“When citizens ask overwhelmingly for something safe and non-harmful, you must find a way to deliver it transparently, equally, and efficiently. This was, in my view, low-hanging fruit,” she added.

Exemptions
Formal exemptions will exist for government officials, security and defence personnel, diplomats and members of the diplomatic corps, and licensed high-ranking state security officials.
Medical waivers for tint levels darker than 35 percent will also remain available, but only when supported by certified medical documentation. The condition must be medically certified. The system is being designed so that it applies to everyone equally, while still protecting legitimate and evidentiary medical claims.
The Minister explained that the pre-December 31 compliance window is a non-enforcement period. This period allows drivers to upgrade previously unauthorised tint or replace overly dark film that currently exists.
“The police force is expected to forebear on enforcement during this grey period so people can comply without friction,” she said. “But after December 31, strict enforcement commences.”

Tint meters, on-the-spot testing, and penalties
After the deadline, law-enforcement officers will be equipped with calibrated tint-testing meters, enabling roadside verification in real time.
A heavy fine of $75,000 will be levied on the spot if a vehicle is found not to be in compliance after December 31.
The proposed changes will be tabled in Parliament. The amendment will outline the full enforcement regime, categories of exemptions, calibration and execution of tint meters, structure and timelines for penalties, and mechanisms for certified medical waivers.
Minister Walrond confirmed that the draft is largely complete, with only minor adjustments remaining.

Technology-driven governance and road-safety reform
The tint reform accompanies a wider modernisation push across national security systems, including upgrades to immigration screening, prison management, national fire services, and expansion of urban surveillance infrastructure.
The policy change is part of broader road traffic reforms that will introduce technology-driven security governance such as the expansion of Safe City and Safe Country initiatives using CCTV, facial recognition, and other technology systems that remove friction, bias, and human intervention, contributing to a 25 percent reduction in serious crime.
Minister Walrond assured Guyanese that the government will continue responding to public needs with fairness, equity, transparency, and predictability.
“Guyanese must know that they continue to have a government that responds to their needs and concerns fairly. This policy is about safety, equity, and transparency–nothing more, nothing less.